2014 Commonwealth Games preparations to cost Rwf66m

RWANDA NATIONAL Olympic Committee has set aside $100,000 [about Rwf66.7m] to prepare local athletes ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.The Local Olympic Committee General Secretary Parfait Busabizwa has requested federations to submit their plans such that preparations can start early enough.“We have requested the federations to present their plans and how they intend to prepare their respective players ahead of the competition.“However, their response is not been good enough. Only cycling, Judo and NPC have so far managed to submit their proposals despite the fact that it’s now four months since we first informed all the federations,” said Busabizwa.Rwanda has been given slots for 7 swimmers, 27 athletes, 8 boxers, 15 cyclists, 7 judo players, four weightlifters, adding up to a total of 41 males and 27 female athletes that the country will send to Scotland next year.The national rugby team, Silverbacks may also compete in the Games if the International Rugby Union issues them a wild card.AdvantageRecently, the Director of Sports in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Emmanuel Bugingo, urged the national sports federations to start early preparations.Bugingo said that capable and talented athletes should be the main priority and be given exposure by competing in continental and international competitions in a bid to prepare them ahead of the quadrennial Games.The veteran administrator stressed that the country should focus on those events that it has advantage in rather than waste resources on disciplines where Rwandan sportsmen and women don’t have any chance to excel.Rwanda made her debut at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, a year after being admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations.The country was represented by a delegation of 22 athletes, competing in athletics, boxing, cycling, swimming, and tennis. The team did not win any medals.The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are scheduled from July 23 to August 3.